EARLY HOLIDAY DEADLINES
FOR THE STAR
December 26 edition will deadline on
Thursday, December 20th
January 2nd edition will deadline on
Thursday, December 27th
Have a Merry Christmas and
A Very Happy New Year!

WEDNESDAY • DECEMBER 19, 2018

Fort Bend / Southwest • Volume 43 • No. 18

Visit www.FortBendStar.com

Jack’s

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281-498-3410
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Houston, Tx. 77099

Pets make
great gifts
but are
terrible
surprises
By Donna Hill
FOR THE FORT BEND STAR

While considering all
the facts about adopting a
family pet is crucial, it’s especially important during the
holidays.
Animal shelter volunteers agree that potential pet
owners need to be ready for
the commitment involved
in taking care of any animal. However well intended,
choosing a pet at the animal
shelter for someone else as a
surprise gift doesn’t always
work out for the family or the
pet.
Kathryn Ketchum, Animal Services Manager at the
City of Sugar Land Animal
Shelter and Sugar Land Petopia offers advice for anyone
thinking about adopting a pet,
especially parents who may
be thinking about adding a
new member of the family on
Christmas Day. Ketchum says
do not get an animal to give
to someone else. Gift certificates are the way to go.
“We suggest making a
gift certificate for someone;
maybe include a pet bed or
toy along with it, that way you
can put something under the
tree. Then the person comes
in with the certificate to the
shelter and they can choose

SEE PETS, PAGE 9

Tucker found his home for the
holidays. A favorite of volunteers
at Fort Bend County Animal Services, he was adopted last week
from a family in Orange. (Submitted photo)

Marshall High School football captains Daylan Malveaux (70), Ja’Mikel Williams-Sims (20), Nautica McCarther (9), and Derek Ledet (31) carry the late Drew Conley’s jersey to
the coin toss of Friday’s state semifinal playoff game. Conley was shot to death, allegedly by his uncle, during a domestic dispute Dec. 10 in Houston. (Photo by Bill McCaughey)

Marshall High School football
player Drew Conley was shot and
killed Dec. 10, allegedly by his uncle
following an argument at their southwest Houston home, police said.
The shooting took place around
11:45 p.m. in the 6900 block of Riv-

er Bluff in Houston. Police said the
uncle, whose name was undisclosed,
and Conley, a 17-year-old senior, were
fighting, when the uncle picked up a
rifle and shot Conley in the upper leg.
Conley was taken to a hospital where
he died.
Conley wore number 3 for Marshall and played safety. Both teams
honored him at Friday’s Class 5A
Division I semifinal game where the

105 years strong!

Buffaloes beat Corpus Christi Calallen in San Antonio. (See Sports on
page 6.)
Police said Conley lived with his
aunt and uncle for about a month,
and that they were in the process of
making him move out. Police reported that the uncle is being questioned
and is cooperating. The case has reportedly been referred to the grand
jury and no charges have been filed.

The uncle reportedly claimed it was
self-defense.
“It was a tough week, but the team
persevered,” Marshall Head Football
Coach James Williams said. “They
loved Drew. We all loved Drew. We
did this for Drew. He was a great kid.
I know he is up there watching. We
love him. This win was for him.”
(Bill McCaughey contributed to this
report.)

Making history in Missouri City

By Donna Hill
FOR THE FORT BEND STAR

When Margaret Gatti was
born, Woodrow Wilson was
president, Pancho Villa left
exile in the United States
to return to Mexico, and
the Ford Motor Company
introduced its first moving
assembly line.
Gatti, who was born in December of 1913, celebrated
her 105th birthday recently
at Brookdale Senior Living.
Family members and the
many friends she’s made at
the center were there to help
her celebrate. Gov. Greg Abbott and Sugar Land Mayor
Joe Zimmerman sent official
proclamations to her for her
birthday.
She’s only been at the
retirement home since last
year, but it’s easy to see
she’s made the adjustment
from living at home with her
granddaughter to a community atmosphere. Busy
with bingo and getting her
her nails and hair done, Gatti
continually enjoys meeting
people and socializing in
general. While her hearing
is not what she’d like it to be,
the League City native still
loves being part of any conversation. Growing up, her
hometown was pretty small

– just 112 people.
When asked what job she
held, she proudly explained,
“I was a farmer. We raised
all kinds of vegetables: beets,
carrots, turnips, cabbage,
bell pepper.” She pauses
only for a moment to recall,
“and tomatoes in the spring.”
The oldest of three children, Gatti helped raise her
two younger siblings - including a sister who lived to
be 93 years old. Although
she comes from a family of
longevity - her mother lived

SEE BIRTHDAY, PAGE 9

Yolanda Ford, right, enjoys a light moment with Missouri City Councilmember Chris Preston, left, after
she swore him in for another term as her first official action as mayor. Ford was the first black and first
woman to be elected mayor of Missouri City. She was sworn in moments earlier by Judge Debra Sinclair,
second from left, while City Manager Anthony Snipes looks on. (Photo by Theresa D. McClellan)

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THE STAR

PAGE 2 • Wednesday, December 19, 2018

See us online www.FortBendStar.com

Prepare for your resolutions
with a bioenergetic checkup
A must-read for Flexcard (FSA) holders
From staff reports

TOP PRODUCERS
FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER 2018

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FOR THE FORT BEND STAR

With the new year coming,
most people will be making resolutions that include losing weight
and getting into shape.
Before starting any diet or exercise regimen, however, it helps
to know just what your body
needs. Just like you wouldn’t
take your car to a mechanic without knowing what’s wrong with
it, don’t try to mend your body
without knowing what ails it. A
bioenergetic scan gives a detailed
report on how your body’s organs
and systems are working and allows you to know exactly what
you need to work on come Jan. 1.
The scans are available from
bioenergetics pharmacist Dr.
Ferryl McClain at Haeckerville
Pharmacy in Missouri City. Bioenergetics is time intensive. The
first visit will take two hours. She
will test to see how drinking water and a cell phone impacts one’s

Dr. Ferryl McClain conducts a bioenergetic scan on a patient. The
exam helps people understand how their body is doing based on energy levels of different organs and systems. (Photo by Joe Southern)

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Fort Bend County Commissioner Pct. 4

health. The test can also be done
remotely with a DNA sample
of spit or hair for patients out of
state.
“Bioenergetics is more than
adding a new product to a health
regimen, it’s about pinpointing
with laser accuracy which products are not and removing them
from your team,” McClain said.
“Bioenergetics is about relationship. You get a follow up visit to
determine how much progress
has been made that is included in
your initial package.”
Patients receive follow-up
calls and emails directly from
McClain. There is accessibility,
as she is located at Haeckerville
Pharmacy and her office door is
always open when she is not in
session with a patient.
“You get someone who represents your best interests,” she
said. “I am your medical advocate.”
Bioenergetics is about incorporating novel approaches such
as the brain robot to scalar energy solutions to boost medicinal
effects. There is much to learn
about health through bioenergetics. Because it is a fairly new

technology blending Eastern and
Western medicine, it is not yet
covered by most insurances. It
can be paid for, however, through
a Flexible Spending Account
(FSA) or a Health Savings Account (HSA).
Many Americans have a FSA
of HSA that allows them to pay
for medical expenses with pretax dollars. For some, those funds
run dry on Dec. 31. Getting a scan
done now, especially for those
with use-it-or-lose-it accounts, is
critical for those who want to im-

SEE BIOENERGETIC, PAGE 3

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THE STAR

See us online www.FortBendStar.com

Correction
The
court-appointed
Master in Chancery Michael Elliott identified
himself when he arrived

H BIOENERGETIC, FROM PAGE 2
prove their health while going into
what is typically an unhealthy flu
and cold season.
McClain uses her BioScan
machine to measure the body’s
energy levels through acupressure
point readings. The process in-

late at the Fort Bend ISD
Sugar Land 95 task force
meeting and was told to
sit in the audience. A story last week incorrectly

stated he was not allowed
to speak. He did not ask
to speak. We apologize
for any inconvenience this
may have caused.

volves having a connector placed
on the patient’s chest while the
patient holds a brass rod in one
hand. McClain uses a probe to
touch each acupressure point on
the patient’s fingers and toes. The
computer analyzes the data and
produces a very detailed report.
With the use of her BioScan
machine, McClain can detect
ailments and proper function of
organs in the body. The same

machine scans medications, vitamins, creams, and such to make
sure they are helping and not causing more harm.
“I’m finding that 80 to 90 percent of the vitamins patients are
taking are actually hurting them
versus healing them,” she said.
To learn more, call 281-9150793 or email info@bioeworks.
com. To schedule an appointment,
visit www.bioeworks.com.

Bring a Blanket Sunday scheduled for Jan. 13
Local churches are sponsoring a “Bring-A-Blanket
Sunday” on Jan. 13 and
would like to invite the community to participate by
donating a new or gently
used blanket to be distrib-

uted to the homeless.
Blankets can be dropped
off at the following participating churches: St.
Catherine
of
Sienna
Episcopal Church – 4747 Sienna Parkway; The Church

make payroll, pay taxes and
maintain a balanced budget. Rice believes education
plays a vital role in providing a competitive advantage
to Fort Bend County, the
community, and the nation.
Rice is a 37-year resident
of Sugar Land. He has been
married to his wife Mary
for 38 years. Their three
grown sons are all FBISD

From staff reports
FOR THE FORT BEND STAR

St. Catherine of Sienna
Episcopal Church, 4747
Sienna Parkway, is a reflection of the surrounding
communities both in its diversity and in the age of its
members.
Nineteen
nationalities
are represented in the congregation. Its small group
ministry allows people to
engage in regular study
and discussion about the
“things of the faith.” The
church offers formation and
fellowship for children on a
regular basis as well.
Life together revolves
around an intentional path.
Everything we do helps us
connect with God and one
another to grow in a relationship with Christ and
one another, and by serv-

St. Catherine of Sienna Episcopal Church. (Submitted photo)

ing Christ through service
to others. This, we believe,
can transform all into the
living, breathing disciples
that we all hope to become.
Visit St. Catherine’s website at www.siennachurch.
org or call 281-778-2046
to learn more about the

specific ministries and the
many opportunities for
spiritual growth, fellowship, and service.
Worship services are
Sundays at 8 and 10:30 a.m.
Sunday school is at 10:30
a.m. Nursery care is available.

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St. Catherine of Sienna Episcopal Church
reflects community in diversity

graduates, and all three
are Eagle Scouts. Rice has
been actively involved as
a volunteer at all levels of
Boy Scouts. He is actively
involved in the community
having served or currently
serving on the boards of
Fort Bend Cares, the Fort
Bend Literacy Council,
Fort Bend P 16 Regional Council, Greater Fort
Bend Economic Development Council, the Thunder
Wolf District Boy Scouts
of America, the Fort Bend
Chamber of Commerce,
and is a member of Christ
United Methodist Church.
Rice
and
his
late
friend, Bob McClendon,
co-founded Fort Bend
Cares, a charitable foundation, in 2005. The
foundation provides grants
to organizations that serve
disadvantaged youth in
Fort Bend County. In addition, Rice was elected to
serve on the Texas Association of School Boards as its
first vice president.
For more information,
visit
www.jimricefbisd.
com.

FOR THE FORT BEND STAR

Jim Rice announced he
will seek re-election as Fort
Bend Independent School
District Board of Trustees,
Position 3 in the May 4,
2019 election.
“I am proud of my service
as a trustee on the board
for Fort Bend ISD. During
my tenure I have served as
board secretary and twice
as board president. Currently I serve on the audit
and governance committees. My goals have always
been to provide a quality
education for all students,
support our teachers, engage the community, and
to maintain a balanced
budget. I am very passionate about education and
have been actively involved
in education leadership
positions throughout the
community,” said Rice.
Jim Rice is a business
owner,
president
and
founder of Rice & Gardner
Consultants, Inc., and understands what it takes to

Wednesday, December 19, 2018 • PAGE

Looking for local events? Find them on page 10!

THE STAR

PAGE 4 • Wednesday, December 19, 2018

See us online www.FortBendStar.com

Christmas lights in Pecan Grove
Buzz Lightyear and Minnie Mouse join Curtis Brown and his family and students from
Living Waters Christian School as they greet visitors touring their neighborhood in Pecan
Grove Friday night. Pecan Grove is abundantly decorated in Christmas lights and hayride
tours are held on weekends in the community. Brown won first place in his neighborhood
for his Christmas light display. (Photo by Joe Southern)

Hope For Three announces
new development director
From staff reports
FOR THE FORT BEND STAR

Hope For Three has announced the appointment of a
new development director, Julie Shaw Noel, to its Sugar Land
staff.
Noel and her husband Scott
came to Texas in 1983. They
have lived in both Houston
and San Antonio and have four
children and five grandchildren, one of whom is on the
autism spectrum. While interviewing for the position Noel
said, “Hope For Three and its’
mission are important and per-

sonal to my family and myself.”
Noel comes from the healthcare finance industry and was
CEO and president of ParrishShaw for 24 years in Houston.
After selling the firm, she decided to use her networking
and financial talents to promote the growth of Hope For
Three.
A philanthropist and volunteer, Noel became involved
with Hope For Three the beginning of this year. She served on
the board of directors of several
professional organizations and
led their charity committees.
Noel and her former business
supported many worthy causes

Julie Shaw Noel on her first
day on the job serving as development director for Hope
For Three. (Submitted photo)

713-433-6421

14700 Almeda Rd.
Houston, TX 77053
www.HoustonHumane.org

and organizations nationally,
and in the Houston area.
“We are thrilled and honored
to have Julie join our team, she
brings a wealth of experience
and knowledge that will help
support children with autism
and their families,” said Darla
Farmer, Hope For Three executive director.
Hope For Three, an autism
advocacy group, provides resources and support, in the
form of financial aid, to families with children with autism
spectrum disorder. For more
information on how Hope
For Three provides help and
creates hope, volunteer or
philanthropic support, call
281-245-0640 or visit www.
hopeforthree.org.

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THE STAR

See us online www.FortBendStar.com

Wednesday, December 19, 2018 • PAGE

5

What I want for Christmas is for you to have the greatest gift of all
What do I want for
Christmas?
That is an increasingly difficult question
to answer as I get older.
As a child it was the easiest question to answer
and one that I loved to be
asked. I would gladly tell
anyone what toys populated my lengthy wish list. I’d
write letters to Santa, tell
him in person at the mall,
and I’d inform my parents
and grandparents at least
a dozen times through the
month of December.
I remember when I was
very young that I wanted
a Tonka truck. I got it and
loved it to pieces. I don’t
know how my parents did
it each year, but somehow
I always managed to get

FAITH,
FAMILY
& FUN
JOE SOUTHERN
EDITOR

the toys I wanted most for
Christmas. From action
figures and accessories to
models to bicycles, they all
seemed to find their way
under our Christmas tree.
Christmas was never
disappointing. I think I was
well into my late teens or
early 20s before I actually
slept all night on Christ-

mas Eve. My parents had
to set a time each Christmas morning for me and
my two younger brothers
to wait for before we could
get them up to go open
presents. It was even more
agonizing when we had
our hobby farm because
all the animals needed to
be tended to before we
gathered around the tree.
That usually meant feeding and milking the cow
and feeding the sheep,
pigs, chickens, ducks, and
about 200 rabbits.
Naturally, as I got older,
my tastes sort of matured.
I still wanted a lot of “mancave” type things, but
clothes actually worked
their way into my wish
list. Along with maturity

Story about Sugar Land 95 contained errors
the Imperial Sugar Company, who conveyed 16
tracts of land to the State
of Texas on Feb. 8, 1908,
being called 5,235 acres,
and later depicted on a
map recorded in 1955 as
Harlem State Farm and
Central State Farm. In
2003, the State of Texas
conveyed the property by
Deed without Warrant to
NNP-Keepsake, who in
turn conveyed it in 2011 to
FBISD.
Also omitted from the
article was a detail which
I think is equally important. The motion made and
passed by the task force
was that if at all possible,
the remains should be reinterned at the site where the

bodies were discovered.
This rather unanimous vote
was predicated that it may
not be possible, or practical, but from an emotional
viewpoint, this was a very
strong preference and the
task force conceded that
point. The motion included
a provision that if an alternate site was necessary, the
Imperial Cemetery should
be that alternate. Prior to
that caveat, the majority of
the task force had indicated
that the Imperial Cemetery
was the foremost preference. This is a point that
is not being reported anywhere.
Sincerely,
Randy McClendon
Sugar Land

Forgotten slaves should be buried in prison cemetery
Dear Editor,
I am completely in agreement with you about the
location of reburying the
forgotten slaves. They can
be remembered better at the
Imperial Prison Farm Cemetery.
I have been by that location a number of times and

children, but that is still a
long way off.
Despite all this Christmas bliss, I have to stop
and remind myself what
Christmas is truly all
about. It’s not about giving
gifts. It’s about receiving a
gift – the one and only true
gift that matters. It’s the
gift of eternal life with God
given to us through the
sacrifice of his son, Jesus.
In the three years of Jesus’ ministry as recorded
in the four gospels, he
was a homeless wanderer.
He had nothing but gave
everything so those who
believe in him and follow
him can enjoy eternity in
Heaven. There is no gift
more precious than that.
In light of that, I’m much

more grateful for the things
I’ve been able to give and
receive over the years. I’m
thankful that I live in a nice
home and drive a nice car.
I have a great job that I
love. More importantly, I
have a loving and supportive wife and children who
also share in the gift of salvation. There is no greater
joy at this or any time of
year than to share that gift
with others.
My Christmas wish for
you is to be blessed by
the grace of God and the
warmth of the relationships in your life. Merry
Christmas everyone!
P.S. Monday was our
19th wedding anniversary.
Happy anniversary Sandy!
I love you more each day.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus

Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor,
The piece on the Sugar
Land 95 that was posted in
last week’s (Nov. 28) Star
was very good and, as always, very informative.
As a local land surveyor
and longtime Sugar Land
resident, I have taken
particular interest in this
matter from the beginning
of its publicity.
It seems the article was
in error in one respect, in
stating the Fort Bend ISD
purchased the property
from Sugar Land. The City
of Sugar Land has never
owned that tract. It was
owned by individual plantation owners during the
early periods (circa 1890),
and then acquired by

came more of a desire to
give than to receive. A real
turning point came when
my daughter was born. I
was much happier showering her with gifts than I
was in receiving them.
Flash forward a few
years with three more kids
and Christmas became
much more chaotic. I suddenly had a much deeper
appreciation for what my
parents went through to
surprise three boys each
Christmas morning. It’s a
real blessing to watch them
unwrap their gifts and see
their happy expressions,
even now when they are in
their teens and 20s. It has
me really looking forward
to the time when I can
experience it with grand-

am impressed. I am 92 years
young and still wonder why
we Christians did not realize many years ago that all
souls are equal in God’s eyes
whether black, brown, white
or pink.
Although I can’t find anywhere in the Bible where
Jesus preached against slav-

ery. It tells how slave owners
are to treat their slaves and
how slaves are to treat their
owners.
Next, death comes to all
and it should not be allowed
to retard progress. The construction should continue on.
Bill Smith
Sugar Land

On Sept. 21, 1897, The
(New York) Sun received the
following letter and made the
following reply. In keeping the
tradition of the holiday, we
present it here for your enjoyment:
Dear Editor,
I am 8 years old. Some of
my little friends say there is
no Santa Claus. Papa says,
"If you see it in The Sun, it’s
so." Please tell me the truth,
is there a Santa Claus?
Virginia O’Hanlon
115 West Ninety Fifth
Street
Virginia,
your
little
friends are wrong. They
have been affected by the
skepticism of a skeptical
age. They do not believe
except they see. They think
that nothing can be which
is not comprehensible
by their little minds. All
minds, Virginia, whether
they be men’s or children’s,
are little. In this great universe of ours, man is a mere
insect, an ant, in his intellect as compared with the
boundless world about him,
as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping

the whole of truth and
knowledge.
Yes, Virginia, there is a
Santa Claus. He exists as
certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist,
and you know that they
abound and give to your life
its highest beauty and joy.
Alas! how dreary would be
the world if there were no
Santa Claus! It would be as
dreary as if there were no
Virginias. There would be
no childlike faith then, no
poetry, no romance to make
tolerable this existence.
We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and
sight. The external light
with which childhood fills
the world would be extinguished.
Not believe in Santa
Claus! You might as well not
believe in fairies. You might
get your papa to hire men to
watch in all the chimneys
on Christmas Eve to catch
Santa Claus, but even if
you did not see Santa Claus
coming down, what would
that prove? Nobody sees
Santa Claus, but that is no
sign that there is no Santa

Claus. The most real things
in the world are those that
neither children nor men
can see. Did you ever see
fairies dancing on the lawn?
Of course not, but that’s
no proof that they are not
there. Nobody can conceive
or imagine all the wonders
there are unseen and unseeable in the world.
You tear apart the baby’s
rattle and see what makes
the noise inside, but there
is a veil covering the unseen world which not the
strongest man, nor even
the united strength of all
the strongest men that ever
lived could tear apart. Only
faith, poetry, love, romance,
can push aside that curtain
and view and picture the
supernal beauty and glory
beyond. Is it all real? Ah,
Virginia, in all this world
there is nothing else real
and abiding.
No Santa Claus! Thank
God! He lives and lives forever. A thousand years from
now, Virginia, nay 10 times
10,000 years from now, he
will continue to make glad
the heart of childhood.

Hosted by:
Briscoe Manor, Richmond, TX

Thursday, January 10, 2019
BAPTIST CHURCH

HERITAGE BAPTIST CHURCH • 281-403-4994

The magic continues at the 4th Annual Taste of Fort Bend scheduled for Thursday,
January 10 at 7pm at Briscoe Manor. We’ll have you spellbound as you enjoy bites
from Fort Bend’s finest food establishments while bidding on items in both live
and silent auctions. This year, we have a few new tricks up our sleeve that you don’t
want to miss as you will be charmed to commit your support.
Proceeds from the evening will benefit Lunches of Love in support of their
commitment to end childhood hunger and feed food insecure children in Fort
Bend County.
For questions or to learn more about Lunches of Love and the impact our program
has on the community, please visit www.lunchesoflove.net
FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, please email lunchesoflove@att.net
TICKETS: lunchesoflove.net/events
EMCEE: Sheriff Troy Nehls

"For God so loved the world,
that he gave his only begotten
Son, that whosoever believeth
in him should not perish, but
have everlasting life."
- John 3:16

PAGE 6 • Wednesday, December 19, 2018

THE STAR

See us online www.FortBendStar.com

@FtBendAthletics:

Marshall to play for state championship
By Bill McCaughey
FOR THE FORT BEND STAR

After a difficult week that
turned a team and a school
into a family, the Marshall
Buffalos beat the Calallen
Wildcats, 19-17 last Friday
in San Antonio to earn a
spot in the Class 5A Division 2 state championship
game.
The
Buffalos
were
shocked to learn of the
death of their senior safety
Drew Conley. Conley was
shot and killed in a domestic dispute last Monday. The
team and school mourned
for Conley, who wore number 3 on his jersey, but they
were determined to win the
game for him. The Marshall
captains carried Conley’s
jersey to the coin toss prior
to the game, and the Marshall fans had many signs
referencing number 3. The
Calallen team wore a #3
decal on their helmets in
honor of Conley.
“It was a tough week, but
the team persevered. They
loved Drew. We all loved
Drew. We did this for Drew.
He was a great kid. I know
he is up there watching. We
love him. This win was for
him.” Marshall Head Coach
James Williams said.
The Buffalos scored on
their first possession as they
drove 75 yards in nine plays
for their first touchdown.
The big play was a 46-yard
pass from Malik Hornsby to

Devon Achane scores a touchdown to give the Marshall Buffaloes an early 6-0 lead in the
state semifinal game against Calallen. (Photo by Bill McCaughey)

Kacey Barnett, which put
the ball on the 9 yard line.
Devon Achane then scored
on a 4-yard run to give the
Buffs a 6-0 lead.
In the second quarter,
Calallen kicked a field goal
to make the score 6-3. On
Marshall’s third series of
the half, they moved to the
Wildcats’ 32 yard line before giving the ball up on
downs with 6:09 to go in
the half. Calallen then ran
15 consecutive running
plays before scoring as time
ran out in the half, giving
them a 10-6 halftime lead.
“We had to make adjust-

ments at halftime, both
offense and defense. Calallen is a great team and they
have a great coaching staff.
We had to make adjustments to stop their running
game. I am proud of the
coaches for what they did,
and I am proud of the players. I am just so proud,”
Williams said.
With 4:26 to go in the
third quarter, the Buffalos took over on their own
22 yard line. Behind the
running of Achane and
Hornsby, they moved the
ball to the Wildcats’ 9 yard
line, where Achane ran it in

with 27 seconds to go in the
quarter to make the score
12-10 in favor of Marshall.
After a punt by Calallen,
the Buffalos took possession on their 20-yard line.
On the first play, Achane
ran up the middle for 80
yards to give the Buffs a
19-10 lead with 7:22 to go in
the game.
“The play was the same
one we had been running
all game, but I finally was
able to bust it. I want thank
my offensive line for opening the hole,” Achane said.
Calallen came back to
score a touchdown with

Dalevon Campbell leaps to catch a pass last Friday during the Class 5A Division 2 state semifinal game against
Calallen. (Photo by Bill McCaughey)

3:02 to go in the game but
their onside kick went out
of bounds and Marshall ran
out the clock to win 19-17.
For the game, Achane
rushed 21 times for 183
yards and three touchdowns. Hornsby completed
6 of 14 passes for 100 yards
and he rushed 12 times
for 61 yards. Korey King
caught four passes for 37

yards.
“I love this team. These
guys are so wonderful.
They earned it (the win)
and they deserve it,” Williams said.
Marshall (15-0) will play
Aledo (15-0) for the Class
5A Division 2 state championship on Friday night at
7 p.m. at AT&T Stadium in
Dallas.

The Fort Bend Chargers
beat the Stephenville Faith
Knights 74-56 on Dec. 1
at College Station to win
the Texas Association of
Independent Athletic Organizations division 2 state
championship.
The Chargers are based
in Sugar Land and provide
home-schooled students a
place to play tackle football.
In the championship
game, Fort Bend and Stephenville were tied 22-22
at the end of the first quarter. In the second quarter,
the Chargers shut out the
Knights
while
scoring
16 points to take a 38-22
halftime lead. In the third
quarter, Stephenville scored
14 points, but the Chargers
added 20 to increase their
lead to 58-36. The Chargers
held on in the fourth quarter, and the final score was
74-56, earning the Chargers
their first state championship.
“Our guys had tremendous cohesiveness and

relationships this year.
They really bonded during
the season and developed
deep friendships. They just
had a burning desire to play
for each other,” Chargers
head coach Larry Pavlik
said.
Quarterback Dylan Pendergast completed 39 of
48 passes for 517 yards
and eight touchdowns, and
he rushed six times for 36
yards.
“Dylan is a super great
guy and a phenomenal
leader. He has been playing with us since seventh
grade. When we go hurryup, he calls all of the plays,”
Pavlik said.
Ethan Sicking caught 12
passes for 171 yards.
“Ethan is a sophomore
and came back to us this
year after taking a year off
to play soccer. He broke a
finger midway through the
season and he caught 12
passes in the championship
game with one of his hands
heavily bandaged. I don’t
know how he did it,” Pavlik
said.
Noah Tingle caught nine
passes for 175 yards, No-

ah Sprinkle caught eight
passes for 48 yards, Kade
Guerra had six receptions
for 45 yards and Jonathan
Kirby had six catches for 65
yards.
On defense, Kade Guerra
and Dylan Pendergast had
six tackles each.
The Chargers have been
in existence since 2011.
They play under the auspices of the Texas Association
of Independent Athletic Organizations, which offers
structured play in six man
football, girls and boys basketball, baseball, softball,
track and field and volleyball for private schools,
charter schools, home
school organizations and
public schools. They currently have organizations in
Houston, Dallas Metroplex,
Austin, San Antonio, El Paso, and Waco.
Six-man football is simi- Dylan Pendergast (8) throws
lar to 11-man football with game. (Submitted photo)
the following changes:
• The scoring is six points
• The field is 80-yards by
for a touchdown, two points
40-yards,
• A first down is 15 yards, for an extra point kick and
• A kickoff must travel 15 one point for a run, and a
yards before it can be cov- field goal is four points.
• The player receiving the
ered,

a pass to Noah Sprinkle (10) in the state championship

center snap must hand the
ball off or throw the ball –
he can not run beyond the
line of scrimmage. Many
teams, including the Chargers, have a back receive

the center snap and toss the
ball to the quarterback who
can then run, pass or handoff the ball.
The Chargers ended their
season with an 11-1 record.

Home • Auto • Business • Life • Toys

“Fastest Growing Agency in Texas.”
ANDREW
HALEY
Agency Owner

281-643-0996

4501 Cartwright Road, Ste 306 • Missouri City, TX 77459

gooseheadinsurance.com/andrew-haley-insurance

A Helping Hand
from

Ed’s Pharmacy
3740 Cartwright Road
(@ FM 1092)

(281) 499-4555

Graves’ Disease: A Thyroid Disorder

Graves’ disease is a condition in which the body’s
immune system causes over-production of thyroid
hormone, leading to hyperthyroidism. The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located near the throat and regulates
a wide variety of bodily functions such as metabolism,
growth, and development. Symptoms can include rapid
heartbeat, anxiety, and in severe cases, the appearance of
bulging eyeballs. Beta-blockers medications block the
hormone adrenaline that is responsible for causing effects
such as rapid heartbeat and anxiety in individuals with
Graves’. Side effects of beta-blockers can be dizziness
and fatigue. Propylthiauracil (PTU) and methimazole
(Tapazole) are anti-thyroid drugs. They both work by
blocking the production of thyroid hormone and have rash
and joint pain as side effects. Additionally, the radioactive
form of iodine can be given to weaken the thyroid gland
and result in less hormone production.

281-250-9993
GriswoldHomeCare.com

FOOT FACTS
by Dr. Eric Tepper

BOARD CERTIFIED PODIATRIST, ACCPPS

DANGEROUSLY DRY

Dry, scaly, or cracked skin on your feet may be more than a
cosmetic concern. Although dry skin is often related to aging, cold
weather, and/or excessive bathing, it can also be related to certain
medical conditions. People with a vitamin A deficiency, poor
circulation in the lower legs, or nerve damage are more likely to have
dry skin. Applying emollient creams to the affected skin can help
prevent moisture from evaporating from the skin’s surface. When
the skin is properly moisturized, annoying symptoms of itching or
scaling usually disappear. Dry skin that persists for more than two
weeks or shows signs of infection should be evaluated and treated by
a podiatrist as soon as possible.
HINT: People with diabetes or high blood glucose levels are at
greater risk of severe infection from dry, cracked skin because germs
feed on the excess sugar and make infections worse.
Is dry, cracked skin tormenting your feet? Do you suffer from
any painful foot condition? Don’t hide behind these five dangerous
words—maybe it will go away. Feet are vulnerable and prone to many
complaints, but most problems don’t just disappear on their own. Your
podiatrist can treat them effectively and efficiently with medication,
surgery, or other less-invasive procedures such as exercise and
orthotics. Don’t take your feet for granted—call us at 281-980-3668
for an appointment. We’re located at 3143 Hwy. 6 South.

Email your news or press release to

editor@FortBendStar.com

Key Catch
Houston Texans receiver DeAndre Hopkins makes the
game-winning catch over New York Jets cornerback Morris Claiborne Sunday at MetLife Stadium. The Texans won
29-22 and moved into position for the second seed in the
AFC conference. The 10-4 Texans are at Philadelphia on
Sunday and conclude the regular season Dec. 30 at home
against Jacksonville. (Photo by Max Siker)

You must see this beautiful
3/2/2 home in Sugar Creek!
Gorgeous landscaping front
and back with a huge deck for
entertaining! Many updates
including granite counter
tops throughout kitchen,
fresh paint, new fixtures and
so much more! This amazing
home is perfect and ready for
move in!

Pictured from the left are Ayah Said, Nolan Nguyen, Richard Embrick, Noel Obi and Ivanie Leslie.

Bush High School team named
state finalist in Samsung contest
From staff reports
FOR THE FORT BEND STAR

Bush High School students Ivanie Leslie, Nolan
Nguyen, Noel Obi, Ayah
Said are advancing to the
2018 Samsung Solve for
Tomorrow Contest.
The students form a
STEM team, coached by
their former Crockett Middle School teacher Richard
Embrick, that has been
named a finalist in the
nationwide competition.
Their team is one of five
in the state and among 250
across the nation to advance in the competition.
Finalists are chosen
based on their creative
and strategic proposals to
solve complicated issues
that affect communities
by using STEM (science,
technology, engineering
and mathematics) learning. The Bush team’s
project focuses on an aging population and its need
for safety and preventative
healthcare technologies.
“The Samsung Solve for
Tomorrow Contest showcases the talents of student
innovators who are identifying and addressing
issues impacting their individual communities,” said
Ann Woo, Senior Director
of Corporate Citizenship
at Samsung Electronics
America. “We are inspired
by the desire of these students to ignite lasting
change in their communities and look forward to
seeing how their STEM
projects unfold in the coming months.”
With $2 million in tech-

nology on the line, the 250
state finalists were to submit a lesson plan by Dec.
10 detailing how students
will execute the proposed
STEM project and how it
addresses the identified
community issue.
The Bush team will join
Texas teams from UT Tyler University Academy,
Del Valle Middle School,
Science and Engineering
Magnet High School and
Harmony School of Excellence at the national
competition.
“I am so proud of the
students and the hard
work they have done to
get this far in the state

ett. The team also has the
opportunity to advance
through the contest to win
additional prizes and educational opportunities.
From the 250 state finalists, 50 state winners will
be selected to submit a video of their project in action.
For achieving state winner
status, 40 of those schools
will receive a $20,000 Samsung technology package,
including a Samsung video
kit to produce their video.
The remaining 10 schools
will progress as national finalists in the competition.
The 10 national finalists
will attend a Pitch Event
where they will present

BONDED & INSURED

Ready to fix that fence?

“I am so proud of the students and the
hard work they have done to get this far..”
- Richard Embrick

and national levels of the
competition. I am equally
honored and humbled to
represent FBISD and lead
the team in competition
against these great STEM
schools,” said Embrick.
Embrick coached the
team while they were
students at Crockett. He
continues to mentor the
students as they advance
to various STEM competitions. By submitting the
team project idea, Embrick
was awarded a Samsung
tablet in recognition of his
team achieving state finalist status. He will use the
tablet to continue to enrich
STEM learning at Crock-

their project to a panel of
judges. The 10 finalists will
also have an opportunity
to receive an additional
$10,000 Samsung technology package as the winner
of the Community Choice
Award. The general public will be invited to elect
one winner for that award.
For achieving national finalist status, seven of the
national finalists will receive a $50,000 Samsung
technology package. The
remaining three finalists
will advance to the national winner stage with
each receiving $100,000 in
classroom Samsung technology and supplies.

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EARLY HOLIDAY DEADLINES
FOR THE STAR
December 26 edition will deadline on
Thursday, December 20th
January 2nd edition will deadline on
Thursday, December 27th
Have a Merry Christmas and
A Very Happy New Year!

INVITATION FOR REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
Cleaning and Janitorial Services
The City of Stafford is seeking a cleaning and janitorial company to service
the City Hall, Police Department, Municipal Courts and the Fire Administration
Buildings.
A pre-bid walk through will be held on Thursday, January 3rd 2019 at 1:00pm.
Sealed bids in duplicate, marked “Cleaning and Janitorial Services”
addressed to the City of Stafford will be received by the City Secretary, Ms.
Tomika R. Lewis, at the Stafford City Hall, 2610 South Main St., Stafford, Texas
77477 until 4:00 p.m., local time, Thursday, January 10, 2019. Proposals
received after closing time will be returned unopened. The proposals will
be publicly opened and read aloud at that time. Notice of the award of
the contract shall be given by the City within sixty (60) days following the
opening of proposals.

FIND THE STAR

LEGALS

ONLINE
FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Specifications and proposal documents may be picked up from the Public
Works Department at 2610 South Main St., Stafford, Texas 77477. Any
questions concerning this bid may be directed to cfair@staffordtx.gov.
The City reserves the right to reject any or all proposals and waive any or
all informalities. No proposal may be withdrawn until the expiration of sixty
(60) days from the date proposals are opened.

NOTICE OF BUILDING STANDARDS COMMISSION
FINDINGS AND ORDER 13401 SOUTHWEST FREEWAY
The City of Sugar Land Building Standards Commission conducted a public hearing on December 10, 2018 and has determined the commercial property located at 13401 Southwest
Freeway, Sugar Land, Texas 77478 no longer qualifies as a
Dangerous Building. A full certificate of occupancy is required
to be obtained prior to re-occupying the property.
A complete copy of the Order may be obtained from the Office
of the City Secretary, 2700 Town Center Boulevard North, Sugar
Land, Texas 77479, Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00
p.m., or call (281) 275-2730 for additional information.

LEGALS
TELECOMMUNICATIONS FACILITY

TELECOMMUNICATIONS FACILITY
Eco-Site, Inc. has submitted a request to the FCC
to register a proposed approx. 120’ tall monopole
telecommunications tower with no marking or
lighting system to be located at 3900 Raoul Wallenberg Lane, Missouri City, TX 77459; coordinates
of 29 34 28.2 N, 95 34 1.19 W. Interested parties
may review the application by going to the FCC’s
Antennae Structure Registration (ASR) website and
entering the ASR application # A1121696. Members of the public may raise environmental concerns about the proposed structure by filing a Request for Environmental Review with the FCC. The
FCC strongly encourages interested parties to file
such requests online and instructions to do so can
be found on the FCC’s Environmental Request page
(http://www.fcc.gov/asr/environmentalrequest) or
send to: Ramon Williams, Federal Communications
Commission, 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC
20554. Requests should also be sent to: FDH Infrastructure Services, ATTN: Richard Brainerd, 6521
Meridien Drive, Raleigh, NC 27616. In order for
your comments to receive full and timely consideration, they should be received at the addresses
above within 30 days of the date of this notice and
reference FCC ASR file # A1121696.

Eco-Site, Inc. has submitted a request to the FCC to register an
existing approx. 150’ tall monopole telecommunications tower with no marking or lighting system to be located at 6941
Thompson Ferry Rd., Missouri City, TX 77479; coordinates
of 29 31 21.20 N, 95 34 19.49 W. Interested parties may review the application by going to the FCC’s Antennae Structure
Registration (ASR) website and entering the ASR application
# A1121682. Members of the public may raise environmental
concerns about the existing structure by filing a Request for Environmental Review with the FCC. The FCC strongly encourages
interested parties to file such requests online and instructions
to do so can be found on the FCC’s Environmental Request page
(http://www.fcc.gov/asr/environmentalrequest) or send to: Ramon Williams, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th
Street, SW, Washington, DC 20554. Requests should also be
sent to: FDH Infrastructure Services, ATTN: Richard Brainerd,
6521 Meridien Drive, Raleigh, NC 27616. In order for your comments to receive full and timely consideration, they should be
received at the addresses above within 30 days of the date of
this notice and reference FCC ASR file # A1121682.

Plans, specifications, and bidding documents may be obtained from
www.CivCastUSA.com.
Sealed bids one (1) original and two (2) copies, shall be delivered to
the City of Sugar Land, Office of the City Secretary, 2700 Town Center
Boulevard North, Suite 122, Sugar Land, Texas, 77479, on or before
11:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 10, 2019, at which time bids will
be publicly opened and read. Bids received after the opening date and
time will not be considered.
A non-mandatory pre-bid meeting for all interested parties will be held
at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, January 3, 2019, Cane Room, City Hall, 2700
Town Center Boulevard North, Sugar Land, Texas 77479.

Plans, specifications, and bidding documents may be obtained from
www.CivCastUSA.com.

The City of Sugar Land seeks bids for performing all work required for
the following project in the City:

Sealed bids one (1) original and two (2) copies, shall be delivered to
the City of Sugar Land, Office of the City Secretary, 2700 Town Center
Boulevard North, Suite 122, Sugar Land, Texas, 77479, on or before
11:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 10, 2019, at which time bids will
be publicly opened and read. Bids received after the opening date and
time will not be considered.

BID NO. 2019-10: PURCHASE OF WATER PARTS
Specifications and bidding documents may be obtained by registering
with Public Purchase www.publicpurchase.com.

NOTICE TO BIDDERS
PURCHASE OF WATER PARTS

A non-mandatory pre-bid meeting for all interested parties will be held
at 9:00 a.m., Thursday, January 3, 2019, Cane Room, City Hall, 2700
Town Center Boulevard North, Sugar Land, Texas 77479.

Sealed bids in triplicate, one (1) original and two (2) copies, shall be
delivered to the City of Sugar Land, Office of the City Secretary, 2700
Town Center Boulevard North, Suite 122, Sugar Land, Texas, 77479, on
or before 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 3, 2019, at which time
bids will be publicly opened and read. Bids received after the opening
date and time will not be considered.

Questions regarding this bid must be submitted online to the www.
CivCastUsa.com system or contact Mike Lai, P.E., at (713) 467-9961
on or before 3:00 p.m., Friday, January 4, 2019.

The City of Sugar Land seeks bids for furnishing all labor, material, and
equipment, and performing all work required for the following project
in the City:
CIP PROJECT NAME: City of Sugar Land New Service Ground
CIP PROJECT NUMBER: MU1712
LOCATION OF WORK: 111 Gillingham Lane, Sugar Land, TX
10405 Corporate Drive, Sugar Land, TX

The City will award and give notice within sixty (60) calendar days after
the opening date and time.

IS LOOKING FOR
DEDICATED
SALES PROFESSIONALS

the weekly

NOTICE TO BIDDERS
CITY OF SUGAR LAND NEW SERVICE GROUND

The City of Sugar Land seeks bids for furnishing all labor, material, and
equipment, and performing all work required for the following project
in the City:
CIP PROJECT NAME: City of Sugar Land Service Work
CIP PROJECT NUMBER: MU1712
LOCATION OF WORK: 111 Gillingham Lane, Sugar Land, TX
10405 Corporate Drive, Sugar Land, TX

HELP WANTED

Keep up
with all

Questions regarding this bid must be submitted online to the www.
CivCastUsa.com system or contact Mike Lai, P.E., at (713) 467-9961
on or before 3:00 p.m., Friday, January 4, 2019.

NOTICE TO BIDDERS
CITY OF SUGAR LAND SERVICE WORK

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THE STAR

See us online www.FortBendStar.com

Area animal shelters

H BIRTHDAY, FROM PAGE 1

Houston SPCA: HoustonSPCA.org
Sugar Land Petopia: www.sugarlandpetopia.org
City of Sugar Land Animal Services: www.sugarlandtx.gov/220/AnimalServices
Rosenberg Animal Control: https://rosenbergtx.gov/public-services/animalcontrol//
Fort Bend County Animal Services: www.fortbendcountypets.com
Missouri City Animal Services: www.missouricitytx.gov/92/Animal-Services
H PETS, FROM PAGE 1
the pet they want,” Ketchum said.
Creating the certificate
could be a simple card, or
a large poster board, stating the giver will pay for the
adoption fees, and the certificate can be redeemed after
the receiver has chosen a pet
at the shelter. Gift ideas for
under the tree might include
putting the certificate in with
a gift basket filled with toys,
a collar, maybe a leash, some
treats, or books on pet training.
“If your goal is to make
someone’s life happy with
a pet, it’s really a personal
choice of the one receiving
the animal. They are the ones
making the forever home for
the rest of the animal’s life.
Maybe the person giving the
gift wants to choose a large
pet, when really the person
receiving the gift would prefer a smaller dog. It all comes
down to what is the best fit
for both and animal and the
owner,” Ketchum said.
“If you are adopting a pet
for a child, make sure you put
some thought into this time
of year. It can be a stressful
for the animal. Bright lights,
many people and much excitement. Be sure there’s a
quiet, restful place for the
animal if you do adopt during
the holidays.”
Pet sleepovers are another
way to find out if you’re ready
to adopt a pet for Christmas.
The sleepover will let you
know how well you and your
potential new buddy spend
some time together, and ultimately see if you two - or
more, depending on how
many are in your family - are
a good match.
“That’s the reason for
the sleepovers. Sometimes
people make a rash decision
based on too many emo-

tions about an animal, when
adoption really needs to be
more than that. Maybe you
thought you were ready for
a puppy, but you really aren’t
yet. Maybe you didn’t realize
your new job kept you away
from home a lot,” said Ketchum.
“Sometimes a sleepover
doesn’t work out. And that’s
OK. Just return the pet, no
questions asked. We do ask
that they fill out a report card
so we know what the animal
is like away from the shelter. That actually helps the
next person who is looking
at a possible sleepover with
the same animal. The report cards help so we know
whether the dog just loves
being a couch potato, or
whether he or she needs a lot
of activity.”
As in the past, the shelter helps Santa make a very
special delivery to homes on
Christmas Eve.
“Santa stops at the shelter
for people who have already
chosen an animal here. He
will put a hold on the animal
at the shelter, and load up all
the animals who were chosen at the shelter, and deliver
them on Christmas Eve to the
new owner’s home, as long as
the new pet owners live within the Sugar Land city limits.
Santa rides with the police
department so he can make
the rounds quickly,” Ketchum
said.
Still thinking about adding
a new member to the family?
Animal shelters suggest that
you give the family a pet as a
gift, but never as a surprise.
Be sure to pay the pet’s adoption fees and avoid impulse
giving. Also consider the
costs of owning a pet: food
and treats, beds, bowls, collar, leash, tags; veterinarian
costs, grooming, flea and tick
prevention; training classes,
pet crates, pet sitters.
Sugar Land Petopia (a di-

Wednesday, December 19, 2018 • PAGE

vision of Sugar Land Animal
Services) will host a Home
for the Pawlidays adoption
event on Dec. 22 from 10 a.m.
to 2 p.m. Adoptions are $10
for all animals.
At Fort Bend County Animal Services in Rosenberg,
new hours are in place, according to Shelter Director
Rene Vasquez.
“We are now open Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
and have recently opened
on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3
p.m., to try to see if we can
save more lives while people
are off from work,” she said.
While adopting a pet is a
big commitment for the entire family, Julie Kuenstle,
vice president of communications and marketing with
the Houston SPCA, said
there are important factors
to consider before deciding
to bring home a new family
member - especially during
the holidays.
“Once a family is ready
to commit to adoption, the
holidays can be a great time
to bond and get acclimated
since the kids are out of
school, and many parents
have some time away from
work,” Kuenstle said. “We
don’t recommend surprising family members, rather
the Houston SPCA offers gift
certificates to put under the
tree, and part of the bonding
process is making the right
selection for your home.”
The Houston SPCA also
offers suggestions when making the decision to add a furry
member to the family during
the holidays or any time.
Some considerations include
finding out if there are pet restrictions where you live, or
if you travel a lot; if you have
the energy for daily walks,
are you a high energy dog
lover or a laidback cuddler.
Are you able to house train
and provide basic obedience?
Do you have allergies?

to be 99 years old, an
uncle to 100 years - sadly
she has outlived her two
daughters. Both were in
their early 60s when they
died of cancer. She has also
outlived her husband, whom
she was married to for only
17 years; and while she became a widow at 38 years
old, Gatti never remarried.
She continued with her very
busy career in the farming
industry.
Christmas tree decorating
is one of her fondest memories.
“I remember seeing a tree
being cut down at someone’s
tree forest. We brought it
home and decorated it with
paper decorations,” she said.
She can still recall memories about World War I as a
small child, when her mother’s cousin, a soldier, came
to their farm and brought
her mother a box of candy.
Although she was too young
to remember, her parents
later told her that during the
Galveston hurricane of 1915,
they secured the family into

a haystack to keep them safe.
While she admits that
she can’t see well enough to
read, she does love bingo,
plays regularly, and emphatically acknowledges “thank
goodness for bingo, boy I
love that!”
She has a weekly 10 a.m.
exercise class, where she
walks, stretches, bends.
“You name it,” she said.
Sue Phillips, executive
director at Brookdale, said
Gatti is physically active every day.
“When she’s not with the
physical therapist, she’s in the
hallway working on different
exercises,” Phillips said.
Gatti actively looks forward to each day, has daily
routines, and sticks to them.
“Every day, get up drink
coffee and toast that’s all,”
she said. “Then there’s supper - in those days it was
supper - not dinner.”
Her beauty routine? She
points to several jars in her
room at Brookdale of Ponds
Cold Cream. She’s been a
faithful user of the beauty
cream since 1949.
Her big passion in life,
which was acknowledged by

her nieces Nancy and Marie,
was dancing. According to
Gatti, dancing was Friday
nights, Saturday nights, any
night. Mexican dancing,
samba, rumba, and dancing
lessons. Family members
said she used to dress to the
hilt for dancing.
When asked what things
she doesn’t like, she thinks
for a moment.
“I like everything. I like everybody,” Gatti said.

2019 Parent Night Out
& Teen/Tween Social
WHO

11 - 18 year old Fort Bend Couny residents with an intellectual
or Developmental Disability (I/DD)

Stafford names ballfield after late coach
From staff reports
FOR THE FORT BEND STAR

The Stafford Municipal
School District made history
recently when the board of
trustees voted 6-0 to name the
district’s baseball field Michael
Mesa Field.
Mesa was a Stafford MSD
graduate who returned to his
alma mater as a coach and
Spanish teacher. He became
one of the youngest varsity
head baseball coaches in the
state. Shortly after his second season as head coach, he

passed away unexpectedly at
age 26, in 2016.
“Michael was a valued
member of the SMSD Community,” said SMSD Board
Vice President Xavier Herrera,
who spearheaded the board’s
effort to name the field in
Mesa’s honor. “Michael began
serving as an example student
and later as a teacher/coach
who impacted a number of students’ lives in a positive way.”
Herrera is also the parent of
a student-athlete who played
for Mesa.
“I appreciate my board
colleagues for unanimously

The Stafford MSD Board of Trustees and members of the
Mission4Mike non-profit organization take a photo to celebrate the re-naming of the SHS baseball field as Michael
Mesa Field. (Submitted photo)

approving the renaming of the
field and all of the hard work
done by the Mission4Mike
board as well,” he said.
Mission4Mike is a non-profit
organization started by Mesa’s
friends and former SMSD
classmates in an effort to keep
his memory alive and positively impact others. Each year
they host a charity softball
tournament in Mesa’s honor.
“We started off as a group
of peers trying to remember
Mike Mesa, pictured here on the Stafford baseball field,
a classmate and along the
died at age 26 in 2016. The school district is renaming the
way we turned into a board
field in Mesa’s honor. (Submitted photo)
of trustees,” said Mission4Mike President/Co-Founder or of coach Michael Mesa, in we’re so grateful for a commuGracie Martinez said. “Our or- honor of the way he was with nity that believed in us.”
ganization was designed with young people and the way he
The Stafford MSD Athletic
purpose and to influence the loved that field. This is a huge Department will dedicate Milives of student athletes in hon- achievement for our team and chael Mesa Field on Feb. 16.

Those were the days - Charlton’s Body Repair - 01-31-18- 3colx3”

COMMUNITY CALENDAR
FORT BEND COMMUNITY CALENDAR IS FOR NON-PROFIT EVENTS.

Bobwhite Quail: Canary of the Prairie, will be held at
6:30 p.m. at the Rosenberg Civic Center, 3825 Texas 36
South, Rosenberg, sponsored by Texas Parks and Wildlife
Department and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.
Free and open to the public. For more information, call
281-633-7033 or email mmcdowell@ag.tamu.edu

SUNDAY, JAN. 6
ART I BECOME

George Memorial Library will host the opening day
reception of this special exhibit from 2-4 p.m., 1001
Golfview in Richmond. The exhibit showcases the artwork
of Claire Payne and her daughters Kathryn Payne Bright
and Terri Payne-Bieber, on display through Feb. 28. The
exhibit may be viewed during regular library hours. For
more information, call at 281-633-4734.

TUESDAY, JAN. 8
PECAN GROVE WOMEN'S CLUB

Meets at the Pecan Grove Plantation Country Club at
9:30 a.m. for coffee and visiting. Speakers from the Oak
Bend Medical Center. Make lunch reservations by calling
or emailing Kay McNinch at 281-238-4002 (kkmcninch@
yahoo.com) or Linda Saad at 281-342-8575 (lindasaad@
gmail.com). Reservations need to be made by Friday, Jan.
4. The program is free and the cost for lunch is $15.

TUESDAY, JAN. 15
TEXAS-TOUGH PLANTS SEMINAR

Skip Richter will showcase tried-and-true plants for Fort
Bend County that are not prone to pests and diseases.
Richter is a horticulturalist, gardening educator, garden
writer and avid horticultural photographer. The event
will be at St. Basil’s Hall at 702 Burney Road in Sugar
Land at 9:30 a.m. Free and open to the public. Visit www.
sugarlandgardenclub.org for more information.

SATURDAY, JAN. 19
HOPE FOR THREE JIGSAW
PUZZLE COMPETITION

This free, six-week, educational program is offered at
Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital to help family
and friends caring for adults with long-term health
conditions. Each class will focus on different tools that
help guide through the caregiving journey. Learn about
setting goals, staying motivated and dealing with feelings
of anger, guilt and depression, building confidence and
ability to cope with the demands of caregiving. Classes
are every Tuesday, 3–4:30 p.m. in the Brazos Pavilion
Chapel, first floor, at Houston Methodist Sugar Land
Hospital. Registration is required. Email snbowman@
houstonmethodist.org or call 281-274-7164. Seating is
limited.

THURSDAY, JAN. 24
HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL

Ridge Point High School Fine Arts Department presents
Disney’s Original High School Musical. Jan. 24, 25, 26, 31
and Feb. 1, 2 Showtime: 7 p.m. Pre-sale online $12 Adults
and $8 students at www.rphstheatrebooster.com . Tickets
available at the door $15 Adults and $10 students.

THURSDAY, FEB. 7
WEIGHT LOSS SEMINAR

Join Dr. Nabil Tariq at 6 p.m. for a weight-loss seminar to
learn about the different programs offered at the Houston
Methodist Weight Management Center, get tips on grocery
shopping and meal planning, and speak with a dietitian,
exercise specialist and bariatric surgeon. Registration is
required. Visit events.houstonmethodist.org/weightloss-sl
or call 281-274-7500 for more information or to register.

Put your puzzle building skills against other teams in
this two-hour competition to benefit Hope for Three
Autism Awareness. Join others at Constellation Field, 1
Stadium Dr., Sugar Land. Teams of four can pre-register
for $100. Awards, prizes and bragging rights guaranteed.
Sponsorship and Underwriting opportunities available.
Call 281-245-0640 or visit www.hopeforthree.org/jigsaw
for information and to register.

Caregivers of patients with Alzheimer’s disease or other
related dementias are invited to attend the first Thursday
of each month, 7-8:30 p.m. at St. John’s United Methodist
Church, 400 Jackson Street in Richmond, across from the
historic Fort Bend County Courthouse. Free and open to
the public. For more information, call 713-314-1313 or
1-800-272-3900.

FREE RABIES VACCINE
with the purchase of
any shot package
*Coupon must be presented at time of service.
Expires: DECEMBER, 31 2018

1 FREE

Blooming Onion with
a purchase of an entrée.

281-980-4329 • 15253 S.W. Fwy Sugar Land, TX 77478
Must bring coupon to redeem. Expires 03/31/2019. Not to be combined with any other offering.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

The Pregnancy Resource Medical Center has moved
to 4411 Avenue N in Rosenberg across from Navarro
Middle School. Volunteers are needed on a continual
basis. For information on volunteering or supporting the
PRMC in other ways, email info@prmcfortbend.org.

4-H, FOOD & NUTRITION

Fort Bend 4-H is looking for input from the community
on how it can better serve the public. To learn more
about 4-H projects, join 4-H at 7 p.m. at the University
Library ( 14010 University Blvd Sugar Land), visit
fortbend4h.eventbrite.com or call 281-342-3034.

STORY SPINNERS WRITING CLUB

Hosted by the George Memorial Library, 1001 Golfview
in Richmond. 5:30 to 8 p.m. All levels welcome to write,
share, learn and support. Free and open to the public.
The program meets on the third Thursday of every
month. For more information, call 281-342-4455 or 281633-4734.

ADOPT A SHELTER CAT

Fort Bend Pets Alive is partnering with Half Price
Books in Sugar Land to find homes for shelter cats and
to promote literacy among young readers. School aged
children are invited to come read to a cat, receive an “I
read to a cat” bookmark and be eligible to adopt a cat for
50 perecent off that day. Held 1:30- 4:30 p.m. the first
Saturday of every month at 3203 Hwy 6 S, Sugar Land.

FORT BEND RECOVERS
HURRICANE HARVEY HELP

Those needing help with a recovery plan for home repairs,
or any unmet needs, Fort Bend Recovers is here to help.
Call one of these Helplines today: Case Management
Helpline 281-207-2555, Spiritual/Emotional Helpline:
281-207-2505, Lone Star Legal Aid 866-659-0666. A case
manager will contact you and get you started on your
road to recovery.
Visit www.fortbendrecovers.org for more information
and to donate.

CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS

The Sienna Branch Library, 8411 Sienna Springs
Blvd in Missouri City presents a variety of programs
every month. Free and open to the public. For more
information, call 281-238-2900 or 281-633-4734.